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Tongyeong, South Korea

WFIMC Café: Youbien Lee

Artists
Competitions

A short interview with the Winner of the 2025 ISANGYUN Competition

Youbien Lee studied at the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts and completed a bachelor’s degree at the Korea National University of Arts in 2022, where she studied with both Kangho Lee and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. In 2022 she began a master’s degree at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin with Troels Svane. She has undertaken masterclasses with Jens Peter Mainz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Danjulo Ishizaka and others. 
Other competition success includes first prizes at the 2021 David Popper International Cello Competition, 2021 JoongAng National Music Competition and 2021 Sungjung National Music Competition. In 2024, she was awarded third prize at the Buchet International Cello Competition in Belgium.
As a soloist she has performed with the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, KNUA Symphony Orchestra and Cheongju Philharmonic Orchestra.
 

WFIMC: You have been living in Germany for a while….

Youbeen Lee: For three years, actually.

Do you like living in Europe?

I really like Berlin. I feel really comfortable here, I don´t know why, but it feels like a second hometown. My previous teacher, Troels Svane, always supported me and is a bit like my German father.

Why do you think so many Koreans like to live in Berlin?

I think with several schools and many great professors, it’s a perfect place to study. A lot of people speak English, there are many other foreigners, and it’s easy to live here.

When you came here, what did you know about Isang Yun? What did he mean to you?

Yun also lived in Berlin! He was an example for many of us, a pioneer so to speak, and he still is a very inspiring figure, even though he is no longer with us. I knew some of his chamber music, and I always wanted to perform it- so the ISANGYUN Competition was the perfect occasion to learn some of his music. “Glissees”, a cello solo work, was a required piece, and I loved it. It’s a perfect mix of European and Asian styles.

 

What about his Cello Concerto? Did consider playing it?

It’s a very hard piece, and I think it’s almost impossible to perform it with orchestra with only one rehearsal. So I chose my favourite concerto, the Shostakovich No. 1.

What was your impression of Tongyeong? How did you feel about the competition?

Actually, my grandfather was born there. He passed away some years ago, but somehow I always remember him, he supported me a lot. As for the city: I think it has changed quite a lot. It’s very different compared to 30 years ago, but it still feels like my family’s hometown.
As for the concert hall- it’s incredible to be so close to the ocean. You can smell the sea; in the dressing rooms you can see the see and the islands- its truly beautiful. Very different from the gray winters in Berlin….

The competition itself felt almost like a festival. I met so many people, so many cellists, so many old and new friends. We learned a lot from each other, even though listening to the others not only gave me inspiration, but also quite a lot of pressure…

Youbien Lee at the Award Ceremony of the 2025 ISANGYUN COmpetition

How do you deal with stress? Are you nervous when going on stage?

I’m a nervous person, especially before performances. But when I go on stage and begin to play, I just dive into the music and forget about being nervous.
At competitions, it’s important to sleep well, in order to feel good and have lots of energy. 
Actually, in Tongyeong, I have problems eating-  I could eat only very small things like bread and some soup during these 10 days. And Orthomol….

Now that the competition is over, what are your plans for the next year?

I began studying in Freiburg (with Jean-Guihen Queyras), but I am still living in Berlin, where I take lessons with Frans Helmerson. Next year I will spend studying and learning new repertoire. But my dream is to perform more in Europe! I might also try other competitions- like the Queen Elisabeth. I really look forward to spend more time in Europe!

©WFIMC 2025/FR